COVID-19: Enhanced measures on Hydro sites on the North Shore

Hydro-Quebec is strengthening its coronavirus control measures at its Côte-Nord sites.

Workers will now not only have to undergo a test, but also get a negative result before entering a construction site. The recent discovery of a positive case led to these changes.

At the end of last week, a construction worker outside the Côte-Nord assigned to the La Romaine village connection project tested positive for COVID-19.

The result of his test, carried out before his departure for the Côte-Nord, was communicated to him upon his arrival in Kegaska. He immediately returned to his home region with great care to prevent the spread of the virus with Hydro-Quebec procedures.

“These safety nets, which are put in place with public health, made it possible in particular to ensure that the Kegaska person could be removed from the environment fairly quickly,” explained Hydro-Quebec spokesman Francis Labbé.

In light of this event, Hydro-Québec is strengthening its control measures for this site and that of the Romaine 4 power plant. Except for some exceptions, a negative COVID-19 result will be required to access the sites.

“From this week, people who come to the site will have to have a negative result before arriving at the camp. For some essential workers, this will not always be feasible. We are trying to ensure that it is, “added Labbé.

These changes are underway as the Côte-Nord seems spared from the second wave of coronavirus.

As of Tuesday, the toll has been four active cases.

However, that’s no reason to let your guard down, the Public Health Department warns, especially since the North Shore, still yellow on the alert level map, is surrounded by red and orange regions.

“As soon as there is a relaxation of measures, there is a risk of a rapid increase in the number of cases,” said North Shore Integrated Health and Social Services Center medical officer Richard Fachehoun. But for the moment, we see that the measures are respected by the majority. But we are really worried because around us there are more cases in the regions around us “.

Despite the region’s distance and isolation, access to screening is adequate everywhere on the North Shore, according to public health.